Parsiana sources information for the Milestones column from various anjumans, hospitals, individuals, newsletters and publications. While much of the material is sketchy, the Bombay marriages and death lists are quite exhaustive.
Data on marriages within the community in Bombay is culled four times in a year from the office of the Registrar of Marriages at the Bombay High Court and on interfaith unions from the Registrar of Marriages offices at Fort and Khar. There may be an inadvertent repetition of names in the marriage list when a civil marriage precedes a religious ceremony. Due to newly introduced bureaucratic procedures, Parsiana has been unable to access the intercommunity marriage figures since around two years.
The list of the deceased with the causes of deaths for those consigned to the Doongerwadi in Bombay is provided by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet with a disclaimer that the information has not been verified or authenticated by them. The Worli Prayer Hall sends Parsiana names of those cremated there. As some parties do not wish the name of the deceased to be published, the actual number of those cremated may be more than the figures shown in the magazine for the concerned month.
The last few names of those deceased in July 2025 find mention here as well as those who passed away till August 5.
In the break-up of Bombay Doongerwadi deaths, especially of the elderly, death is often due to a combination of several diseases.
Causes of deaths for July 2025: Various diseases of the heart took the lives of nine Zoroastrians. Six of them had crossed the 80-year-old milestone. The other killers were: pneumonia/lung disease and diabetes (seven each), cancer (six), urosepsis and septic shock (three each), hypertension, multi organ failure and gastro intestinal bleed (two each) and kidney failure, brain disease, liver disease, Alzheimer’s disease, urinary tract infection and sepsis (1 each). A male patient succumbed to Covid 19 whereas in another case, the coroner’s report was kept pending. Two centenarians — a male and female, aged 103 and 102 respectively — were lost to the community. Fifty-nine was the youngest age at death. The mean age at death of Zoroastrians for July 2025 in Bombay was 83 years. The life expectancy at birth for males was 78 years and for females, 87 years.
Parsiana also receives death intimations from the Poona Parsi Panchayat, Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman of Secunderabad and Hyderabad, The Surat Parsi Panchayat Funds and Properties Trust, Jhansi Parsi Anjuman, Nagpur Parsi Punchayet, Zoroastrian Society of Ontario, Fram Framji of Karachi, Dr Ardeshir Damania of California and Arnavaz Sethna of Houston.
Data on births in Bombay is made available by the Breach Candy Hospital. Births in other hospitals and private nursing homes are included when an individual sends us information together with a copy of the birth certificate.
If readers have any births/ marriages/deaths they would like published, they are welcome to write to/email us. Some proof to ensure the veracity of the report would be necessary. We are sure our readers would appreciate this requirement.
Bombay
born
A boy, Karl, to Parinaz
Vakil and Ishan Handa, brother to Kyrus on
July 1, 2015
A boy to Feriel Palia and Philip Jackson; July 1
A boy to Zelda Dadachanji and Shahveer Irani; July 9
A boy to Ava Ichaporia
and Yezdi Roowalla;
July 10
A girl to Rukmini and Navruz Vakil; July 22
A boy to Ayesha Medhora and Noshir Patel; July 23
died
consigned
Teshtar Aspi Irani (85), wife of late Aspi and daughter of late Bachu and Naval Dordi, residing at 12/G-2, Shapur Baug, V. P. Rd, Girgaon, 400004; July 11
Thrity Behram Bulsara (81), wife of Behram, daughter of late Gool and Bahmanshaw Fatakia, mother of Pourushasp and sister of Viraf Fatakia, Marzban Fatakia, late Nergish Ruttonshaw Madon and late Rustom Fatakia, 6, Bacha Manor, N. D. Patel Rd, behind GPO, Nashik, 422001; July 22
Thrity Pervez Mistry (90), wife of late Pervez, mother of Hoshi and Yezdi, 646, Gaia Co-op Hsg Soc, Khareghat Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar (E), 400014; July 22
Anita Bomi Billimoria (85), wife of Bomi, daughter of late Hilla and late Barjor Daruwala and mother of Dilshad Jason Posnock and Farhad, 12, Jupiter, Anstey Rd, Cumbala Hill, 400026; July 23
Sarosh Nadir Engineer (76), son of late Aloo and Nadir and brother of Pearl Beheram Dubash, 10/7, above Moshe Restaurant, Cuffe Parade, 400005; July 23
Homai Dorab Mehta (98), wife of late Dorab, daughter of late Dhun and Keki Kuka, mother of Rashna and sister of late Soli Kuka, Bahadur Kuka, Hosi Kuka and Jangoo Kuka, B-9, Tardeo Chmbs, Kashinath St, Tulsiwadi, 400034; July 23
Jehangir Noshirwan Karkaria (77), husband of
Nergish, son of late Perin and Noshirwan, father of Cherag and Noshirwan and brother of Jaroo Noshir Chikliwala and Aspi, 36, Patel Apt, Agiary Compd, Jamboli Naka, Thana, 400601; July 24
Khorshed Nanu Daruvala (88), wife of Nanu, daughter of late Dhunmai and Jehangirshaw Damania, mother of Rukshad and Pareezad and sister of late Gool, Noshir Damania, Homi Damania and Ratan Damania, 764-C, Balivala Bldg, M. Joshi Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar (E), 400014; July 24
Zarsis Dorabsha Udhna- wala (77), husband of Katy, son of late Dhunmai and late Dorabsha and brother of Nariman and late Viraf, A-103, Ahuna Co-op Hsg Soc, Divecha Complex, Edulji Rd, Charai, Thana (W), 400601; July 25
Minoo Rustomji Majoo
(86), husband of Mani, son of late Dinamai and late Rustomji, father of Rumi and Homyar and brother
of late Aspi, 4/7, Khareghat Clny, N. S. Marg, 400007; July 26
Dady Fardoonji Motafaram (93), husband of Zaver, son of late Meherbai and late Faredoonji, father of Rukhshana Darayas Modi, Nilufer, Arjasp and Persis and brother of late Minoo and Tehmi, C/24, Malbari Bldg, New Khareghat Clny, Babulnath Rd, Grant Rd, 400007; July 26
Percy Minocher Billimoria (70), husband of Nazneen, son of late Homai and late Minocher and father of Neville, Porus and Feruzan, 41/C, Usha Sadan, 38, N. Parikh Rd, next to Colaba
PO, Colaba, 400005;
July 28
Adi Dinshawji Patel (81), son of late Banoobai and late Dinshawji Patel and brother of Jeroo Bomi Master, Nargish Patel and Nariman, 9/11, Tata Clny, Tardeo, 400034; July 28
Roda Byramji Laher (102), wife of late Byramji, daughter of Goolbanu and late Nariman Kapadia, mother of Vira Sorab Faruzan and Zubin and sister of late Mani F. Kerawalla and late Dinoo P. Mysorewalla, 206, Flyover Apt, Telly Gully, Andheri (E), 400069; July 29
Freny Aspi Dalal (89), wife of late Aspi, daughter of late Banoobai and Naoroji Kolah and late Daulat Kolah, mother of Firoza Harish Tejani and Gev and sister of late Savaksha Kolah, late Putla and late Tehmi, 18, Lady Hirabai Cowasji Jehangir Health Unit, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 400007; July 31
Mehroo Burjorchmeher Wadia (86), wife of late Burjorchmeher, daughter of late Hilla and Jehanbux Randelia, mother of late Tanaz Govadia and sister
of late Jeroo Adar Sidhwa, late Eruch Randelia and Farokh Randelia, Room no 3, Sea King, 24, Thomes Cross Lane, Colaba, 400005; July 31
Maneck Jehangirji Talavia (89), husband of Katy, son of late Jerbai and late Jehangirji, father of Pervin, Farida and Zenobia Percy Avari and brother of Khurshid, Bomi, late Mehrooben, late Dinyar and late Kety, D-202, Raheja Nest, next to Lake Home, Chandivali Farm Rd, Andheri (E), 400072; August 3
Jal Hormusji Sagar (88), husband of late Piloo, son of late Homai and late Hormusji and brother of Minocher, late Dara and Sam, 37, 1, Gurungr, 4 Bglw, J. P. Rd, Andheri (W), 400063; August 4
Hoshang Minocher Surti (81), son of late Piroja and late Minocher and brother of Aspi, late Sheroo Hiraji Gandhi and Viraf, 16, C. M. Banajee Bldg, Forjett St, Gowalia Tank, 400036; August 4
Baby girl (1 day), daughter of Sanaeya and Porus Golwalla, 17/A, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla (E), 400027; August 5
Rusi Behram Irani (87), son of late Ketayun and late Behram and brother of Sorab, Shirin, Thrity, late Aspi, Roshan and Hormazd, 5/20, Garda Bldg, B. S. Panthaki Baug, Mathurdas Vasanji Rd, Andheri (E), 400069; August 5
Ratan Noshirwan Mistry (84), husband of Khorshed, son of late Goolmai and late Noshirwan and brother of late Aban Nadir Variava and Armaity Zarir Panthaky, 4/28, Ganesh Bhuvan, 1st Dhobi Talao Lane, Kalbadevi, 400002; August 5
cremated
Gulshan Behram Mistry (67), wife of late Behram, daughter of late Katy and late Ardeshir Bhoot, mother of Zenobia Zubin Dhamodiwala and Khushru and sister of Nergish Behram Marolia, 16/4-A, New Dubash Bldg, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 400007; July 8
Percy Burjorji Chaina (83), son of late Tehmina and
late Burjorji and brother
of Khurshed, late Manek, late Jimmy, late Bhikoo
and late Khorshed, 1-B, Rubans Apt, Laxmibai
Jagmohandas Rd, Malabar Hill, 400036; July 20
Katie Pesi Motiwala (80), wife of late Pesi, daughter of late Aloo and late Maneck Master, mother of Parizad and sister of Porus Master, 8-B, Motta Mans, opp Bhatia Hosp, Tardeo, 400007; July 22
Dhun Jehangir Surti (83), husband of Prochy, son of late Mani and late Jehangir and father of Darius and Jehangir, 51, Valentina, N. Gamadia Rd, off Peddar Rd, 400026; July 29
BULSAR
died
Behram Pestonji Jamadar (93), husband of late Freny and Nergish, son of late Goolbai and late Pestonji, father of Shiraz Jehangir Pardiwalla and Kashmira Sarosh Irani and brother of late Naval, late Kersi, late Koomi, late Lavji and Jimmy, 302A, Devdarshan Soc, opp Halar Water Tank, Halar Rd, 396001; July 7
Kekibhai Jalbhai Chothia (92), husband of late Silloo, son of late Najamai and late Jalbhai, father of Aloo Burjis Aibara and Rohinton (Baubu) and brother of late Minoo, late Maki, late Dhanmai, Saheroo and
Dolly, Mota Parsiwad, 396001; July 23
NAVSARI
died
Khorshed Eruchsha Nalladaru (94), wife of Eruchsha, Parsi Infirmary, Vejalpore, 396445; June 24
Keshmira Manek Mogal (66), wife of Manek and mother of Sharmin Barjish Kasad and Mahfrin Shehzad Deboo, Dholikui, Mahuva, 394250; July 6
Sam Burjorji Mehta (82), husband of Parvin and
father of late Zarir, Arzan and Sharmin, Mora St, 396445; July 17
Darayes Pirojsha Gandhi (61), husband of Beroz, son of Nergis and late Pirojsha, father of Rony and Shahvir and brother of Nevil, late Yazdi and Bakhtavar Rohinton Munshi, K-8, Avanbaug, 396445; July 19
SECUNDERABAD
died
Keki Rustam Karai (79),
father of Jamshed, J-4, Lakeview Apts, Rd no 11, Banjara Hills, 500034;
June 2
• • •
CANADA
Ontario
died
Shahnaz Soli Pestonji (71), wife of Soli and mother
of Dina and Yasmin in
Toronto; July 17
Eruch Pestonji Bhathena (93), husband of late Nergish and father of Hushidar (Hoshi) and Rohinton;
July 25
DUBAI
died
Zeshan Yashan Jokhi, son of Dilshad and Yashan and brother of Simran; July 30
USA
died
Godafrid Russi Makujina, wife of Russi, mother of John, Nosh and Shah and sister of late Jerbanoo
Jimmy Irani; July 19
New York
died
Pervez Patel, husband of Katie and father of Avan; July 21
Tennessee
born
A girl, Aria, to Tralene
and Farrokh Kapadia in Memphis; June 6
• • •
Figures for Bombay
January 1-August 5, 2025
Marriages
Parsi: 48
Deaths: 373
Consigned to dakhmas: 331
Males: 175, Females: 156
Cremated: 42
Males: 17, Females: 25
Compiled by Roxan A. Driver